Method of making contact devices for radio sockets and the like



June 4, 1935. Q KNUTSQN 2,004,076

METHOD OF MAKING CONTACT DEVICES FOR RADIO SOCKETS AND THE LIKE Original Filed Dec. 21, 1932 Inventor: Carl L. K n ulson '45 with Patented June 4, 1935 METHOD ,OF MAKING CONTACT DEVICES FOR RADIO SOCKETS THE LIKE Carl L. Knutson, Maywood, Ill., assignor to Cinch Manufacturing Corporation,

corporation 01' Illinois Original application De Chicago, Ill., a

cember 21, 1932, Serial Divided and this application May 25, 1933, Serial No. 672,832

3 Claims. (01. 113-119) My invention aims to provide improvements in the method of making contact devices for radio sockets and the like.

This application is a division oi my applica- 5 tion Serial No. 648,265, filed December 21, 1932.

In the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a radio socket in which my improved contact devices are used;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 showing the manner in which my improved contact devices are assembled with the socket structure; and

Fig. 3 is a planview oi the blank from which- 15 a contact device is termed;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the blank shown in Fig. 3;

' Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the second step of the process of forming the contact device;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 5 shows a the process;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5**5 of 25 Fig. 5; I

, a Fig. 6 shows a plan view of the device after the fourth and fifth operations have been performed;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the device shown 36 ill Fig. 6;

Fig. '7 shows a plan view of the device upon completion of the sixth operation of the process;

Fig. l is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. '7;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of device;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation tact device; and

Fig. 10 is an end elevation to tact device.

Referring to the particular invention illustrated by the annexed drawing, I have shown a contact device particularly, though not exclusively, adapted for use in connection radio sockets to receive the prongs of a radio tube. The particular contact device illustrated is formed from a single sheet of metal and has a fiat, ring-like base portion I (Figs. 8,

9 and 10) split at one side by a slit 2 extending so from the aperture 3 to the outer periphery of the base I. Integral with the base I and extending directly from the wall surrounding the aperture 3 I have provided a tubular portion 4 tapering slightly toward its free end. This tubular 66 portion 4 is divided for a portion of its length,

plan view of the third step in 35 the complete contact of the complete conof the complete conembodiment of my end, by slits 5 to provide a plurality of yieldable, contact-engaging petals 0. Que of the slits 5 (Fig. 10) extends the entire length oi the tubular portion 4 and joins the slit 2 in the. base I thereby permitting yielding of the base and the tubular portion 4 with and independently of the petals 6. The device is also provided with a wiring terminal l in the form of an arm extending from the periphery of the base preferably opposite the slit 2.

The particular radio socket structure which I have illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 includes a pair of relatively thin plate members 8 and 9 superposed upon each other and made of non-conducting material. Each plate member has a series of circularly arranged apertures in alignment with each other, as best illustrated in Fig. 2. The contact devices areassembled with their base portions I between the plates 8 and 9 and the tubular portions 4 extend through the apertures in the plate 9. Other apertures I 0 are formed-1n the plate 9 so that the wiring terminals I may pass therethrough to place them in convenient positions for receiving various wire leads and also to maintain the contact devices in proper positions and against relative rotation. A guide disc II is located inside the circle of apertures in the top plate 8 and is secured in position, together with the plates 8 and t, by means of the rivet I2.

I have not attempted to show all of the detailed formations which occur in the various steps in making my improved contact device but have shown only those steps which are appreciablydifierent from each other so that anyone skilled in the art may know the method by which my improved device is made. The preferred method by which I form my improved device is to cut a blank from a flat sheet of metal like that shown in Figs. 3 and 3 and then pass it in a step-bystep manner through a series of dies until it is completed in the form shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. In Figs. 4, 4, 5 and 5 I have shown, in a general way, the manner in which the portion which presents the petals 6 is formed into a generally tubular shape adjacent to its connection with the wiring terminal portion 1. Figs. 6, 6 7 and '7 show beginning at its free the tubular portion bent at right angles to the wiring terminal and further operations upon the tubular portion to taper it toward the free end. Thereafter the upper portion of the tubular part adjacent to the wiring terminal is flattened by a gradual flaring out process, as shown by an inspection of the portions of Figs. 6 7 and 9, to

provide the ring-like base flange I and the wiring' terminal I is bent into any desired shape such as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

My improved terminal (evice is particularly desirable becauseit ismade from aminimum amount of sheet metal, it is simple in construction, durable and decidedly satisfactory in operation. when the prong of a radio tube is forced into the tubular portion 4.it contacts with the inner surface thereof to make an electrical connection be tween the two members. The prong (not shown) is preferably of slightly larger diameter than the normal diameter of the aperture 8 in the sleeve 4 above the slits 5 sothat the sleeve must expand circumferentially during engagement with the prong of the radio tube. As the prong is pressed farther into the tubular portion 4 it contacts with the yieldable petals 8 and forces them outwardly relative to each other. Thus the base I, sleeve portion 4 and petals 6 yield during engagement of the device with a prong to make a tight gripping contact between the two members. 1e I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 do not wish to be limited thereby, because the scope of my invention is best defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. The method of making a contact for a radio socket and the like which comprises forming a flat blank with a portion having a series of petals, at one end, bending said petal-presenting portion to form a tubular yieldable contact-receiving portion and then flaringoutwardly a portion of the tubular portion to form a base flange at one end of said portion, the base flange extending at right angles to the axis of the yieldable contact-re- .ceiving portion.

2. Ihe method of making a contact device for a radio socket and the like having a base and a tubular contact-receiving portion extending directly from the center of said base, which comprises forming a blank of flat sheet material having a series of petals at one end thereof, bending the petals and adjacent portion of the blank into a substantially tubular form split throughout the length thereof at one side and thereafter forming a split base flange on that end of the tubular contact-receiving portion opposite that end where'the petals are located, the said base flange because of said slitbeing yieldable in a plane laterally relative to the plane of the base flange.

3. The method of making a contact device for a radio socket and the like having ayieldable tubular contact-receiving portion, a base flange at one end thereof and a wiring terminal extending from said base flange, which comprises forming a blank having at one end a portion provided with a series of petals and at the other end a wiring terminal, subjecting the petal-presenting portion to bending operations thereby forming it into a yieldable tubular portion with independently yieldable petals, bending the wiring terminal portion at right angles to the tubular portion and thereafter bending that portion of the tubular portion opposite the yieldable petals into a laterally yieldable base flange.

CARL L. KNUTSON. 

